Construction Coverage’s latest research shows the 2026 edition of America’s hottest real estate markets, revealing areas where demand is still surging despite the national economic slowdown.
Home sales are down 8.3% from a year ago, and price growth has slowed to just 1.1%, but competition remains fierce in some markets, particularly in the Northeast, where homes are selling quickly and often for more than asking price.
However, Florida ranks near the bottom of the list due to slowing demand for sales.
Florida’s major cities, including Jacksonville, Tampa and Miami, are experiencing significant housing market downturns.
The study ranked Jacksonville 52nd out of 52 large cities, indicating relatively low demand amid a cooling national housing market.
Jacksonville Home Prices + Growth: The median home price in Jacksonville is $282,000, with a year-over-year price change of -2.1%, well below the national growth rate of 1.6%.
Competition and Market Speed: 14.0% of Jacksonville homes sell for more than asking price, and the median time on the market is 69.4 days. Nationally, 27.0% of homes sell for more than asking price, and the median time on the market is 48.7 days.
After more than two years of intense competition and soaring prices, the U.S. housing market experienced a sharp cooling in late 2022 and early 2023.
After a turbulent few years of soaring prices, rapid cooling, and fluctuating mortgage rates, the U.S. housing market enters 2026 with new dynamics.
How have home sales prices changed over time?
After continued growth until 2024, home sales prices are sluggish
Home sales prices have plateaued as high mortgage rates continue to make it difficult to maintain affordability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, home values soared, with year-on-year price growth peaking at 26.3% in May 2021 and gradually slowing thereafter. By late 2022, the annual growth rate had fallen to just 1.0%, and by April 2023, prices had fallen 4.1% year-on-year. Although it recovered to historic levels after a period of growth in 2024, price growth has slowed since then. As of January 2026, house prices had increased by only 1.1% compared to the previous year.
